Ok guys....for a start, remember it is raining, heavily overcast, with a ground hugging fog.
I get the scope on the rifle ( a mid-range Bushnell, not the cheapest nor the most expensive) 4-12x42...get the mounts/rings tight, cross hairs straight, and so on.
I clean the barrel, start my "break-in"....fire 1, clean....fire 2 clean, and on and on, you know the routine...I HATE IT!!!
Now, I am ready to see a little of what to expect. I go grab some "old standby" loads... .224 Speer 52 gr hp, 24.7 gr AA 2230....should be about right for starters...most every 223 I ever had shot this load well...
I put the rifle on the bags, get it all nestled in.....pull the bolt out..look through the barrel, through the scope...adjust scope...repeat...ahhh everything looks OK......put the bolt back in.
Lets' see, OK..25 yards to be sure I am on the paper....sight.....breathe
and squeeze........BOOM....repeat....BOOM...repeat BOOM, Go forward to check the target.....one tiny hole, a little high, a little left....looks good...adjust scope again, get set to shoot 100 yards.....WOO HOO....I am finally ready to see what we can do. I look down toward the target.......NO!!!!, the fog has set in until I can hardly see it...maybe with the scope....oops, worse...drop back to 4 power...still bad, but as in the old Clint Eastwood movie...."Man, I gots to know".
BOOM.......wait 1 minute with the action open...Boom again...repeat......5 times.......
Get up and go downrange to check the results,( no spotting scope here ya know
...well, not the stuff dreams are made of, but under the circumstances, not so bad...1 1/2 inches high, 1/2 inch left....center to center about 1.1 inches.
I am sure with better weather, a little more power on the scope, and a little judicious handloading, this rifle will shoot at least 3/4inch, perhaps better..not too shabby for a 6 lb sporter.
Overall impresssions of the rifle? Thus far very good. The workmanship is very good, fit and finish are better than many...( not Kimber ) but really nice. A pretty nice looking piece of European walnut, it even has grain
Very nicely polished metal...safety smooth and positive, a little tight but that will get better...same with the magazine, tight but well built and solid. Now for the trigger, it is a single set trigger. It breaks at a creepy 3.5 lbs without it being set...not bad creepy, more like an old two stage military trigger but not as bad. After setting it, it as light and crisp as you can stand it,fully adjustable, so it is up to you..I put mine at about a pound. It breaks like a glass rod,a surprise every time.
I guess I would describe it as extremely handy, well built and solid. A very nice looking rifle, and I am proud of it. I think it will do what I want it to do nicely...easy to carry....light...and accurate. Hmmmmmm I think I must like it just fine
